Lossiemouth United director of football, Fraser Kellas, completes tandem skydive to raise money for his Moray coastal community
Not many 67-year-olds would be willing to jump out of a plane at 8,000 feet and freefall at 130 miles per hour to raise money for their local football team.
Fraser Kellas was, and the daring tandem skydive he performed last month gave him the best experience of his life - and his club a £2,500 windfall.
As director of football at Lossiemouth United, he wanted to come up with a new idea for bringing in more cash for the north junior club, one at the forefront of serving its local community.
It just so happened that the Lossie football legend harboured a lifelong ambition to do a parachute jump, and decided it wasn’t too late in life to fulfil that aim.
Not even a weather cancellation on the intended date of the jump could knock Kellas off his stride, as his video shows his cool-headed approach to a challenge which would frighten the life out of many.
“I said on the video it was the best thing I’ve ever done and I stand by that,” he said. “It was a fantastic experience, the whole thing.
“I didn’t feel nervous one wee bit and I don't know why but I didn’t have butterflies at all. My wife was saying to me, you’re cool as anything but I didn’t feel anything, I just wanted to get it done.
“It was everything I expected and more. When you are doing the freefall it’s just for something like 30 seconds and you are reaching speeds of 130 miles per hour. But it was an amazing feeling.
“What surprised me was, I was expecting a big jolt when the main parachute came out but it was quite soft. I didn’t feel sick at all, it was just brilliant. I wanted to go straight back up as soon as I finished.”
Kellas said he was overwhelmed by the £2,5000 sum he raised. It will support United’s efforts in their local community, which include hosting ‘Little Kickers’ introductory football sessions for kids as young as four.
“Without a doubt, this money will help the club a hell of a lot. Some people who donated to me, I haven’t seen in thirty-odd years.
“Everybody is delighted with the funds that we’ve raised. The fundraising for a club like Lossie United is ongoing and I just wanted to do something a wee bit different.”
Kellas was a leading Highland League footballer in his day, becoming a fans’ favourite at Elgin City for his skilful performances on the wing.
He later went into management, bossing one of the most successful Lossiemouth teams in their Highland League history and also taking charge at Forres Mechanics and Huntly.
Offshore work took him away from football for a number of years but now retired, he joined the effort to restore Lossiemouth United to the junior football ranks in 2022 after a number of years in abeyance.
He recalled a committee meeting looking at a fresh approach to fundraising for the club, where he elected to sign up for his high-altitude quest.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but I just never got around to doing it.
“Some folk say I’m daft and there’s maybe some truth in that.”
High winds saw his jump cancelled on its scheduled date, and the plug was very nearly pulled the following day when the weather failed to improve significantly.
“When we got there on Sunday, the wind was too much. They won’t let you jump when it’s over 20 knots.
“We went away and I had a few beers on the Sunday afternoon, we came back on the Monday morning and it was touch-and-go again.
“We were going, and then we had the harness off, we were kitted up again and ready to go and the guy came back again and said it didn't look like I was getting to go.
“I took the harness off again and within five minutes he returned, told me to get it back on - you’re going.
“When you’ve worked offshore, you’re used to that and it felt a bit like when the fog would come in and your trips were getting cancelled.
“But it was an amazing feeling.
“It’s something you’ve got to do for yourself. People can tell you what it’s like but the only way to really know is by doing it yourself.”
His jump was sponsored by his wife Louise, who runs her Walkies, the Moray dog walking business.
